Tube-stock feeding, measuring, and cutting machine



Nov. 25, 1930. A. R. KRAUSE ET AL TUBE STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jupe 22, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 25, 1930.

A. R. KRAUSE ET AL 1,782,658

TUBE STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING CHINE Filed June 22, 1927 gusts-Sheet 2 A E EQ 'iIK E Nov. 25, 1930. A. R. KRAUSE ET AL 3 5 TUBE-STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 22. 1927 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 25, 1930. A. R. kRAusE ET AL 53 7 TUBE STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING IACHINE v Filed June 22, 1927 7 Shoots-Sheet 4' //%/ed A I [z Nov; 25, 1930. A. KRAusE ET AL 1,732,653

TUBE STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING CHINE Filed June 22, 1927' 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IMWIIIHHIHH WWI) V u l I H I Nov. 25, 1930. A. R. KRAUSE ET'AL TUBE s'rocx FEEDING, umsuame, AND CUTTING cums 7 shuns-sheet 6 Filed June 22, 1927 Nov. 25, 1930; A. R. KRAUSE ET AL 1,732,558

TUBE STOCK FEEDING, MEASURING, AND CUTTING CHINE Fil eddune 22, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v ARNOLD-R. KRAUSE AND ALFRED onrnson, 01 mm CLAIRE, isconsin, ASSIGNOBS r GILLETTE RUBBER COMPANY, or EAU CLAIRE, vvIsooNSmiA CORPORATIONOF WVISCON SIN i 1 UBE-swoon FEEDING, m s me; AND ou'r'rme iuacniN-n Application filecl lune 22,

This invention relates to atube stock 1ncasuring', feedingand cutting machine for nice suring and cutting raw tube stockpr-ior to rolling on mandrels for the vulcanizing operation; i l r s V It is an objectof thisinvention to provide a machine of the class described adapted to sever the tube stock into the required lengths and to provide "a Working table Where the valve patches can be applied and'the stock rolled ontomandrels as apart of a substantiallylcontinuous processythus increasing the production of tubes with a decrease inthe more fully described.

labor and space required. "In the. manufac tureof inner tubes forpneuinatic tires the raw tube stock istaken off the rolls of a rubber mill in the required Width and is then cut into individual lengths, a tire valve patch being added andthe stock rolled onto a tubular mandrel Which carries'the tube during the vulcaniZing operation, the tube being then chronisin with the feeding or measuring mechanism in order-to avoid stretching of the stock,but in order to provide working 7 space between adjacent lengths of stock, the

Work table is given additional travel after the shears are operated "by providing a'clutch for the feeding mechanism Which is automatically controlled to produce the desired over-travel betWeen'the, feeding periods.

"Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings; 1

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter "On the drawings: v f y Figure 1 is a side elevation of themeasuring mechanism of this invention With a fragmentary partof the delivery conveyor upon XIII'XIII of Figureld:

Figure 1. 1 ing pulley 13 and a small pulley 12. The end 1927. ser ia m. 200,565;

which the operation of rolling the tube stock on the mandrel is'preformed Figure 2 is an elevation of the reverseside of the measuringmechanism ofFigure 1.

Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof. 7 p

Figure 49119 a vertical section on the line -IV of Figure 2. i v 1 i a Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line- V-V ofFigureQ. 1 i

Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line VI-VI of Figure 3.

Figure 'Tis a horizontal VII-VII of Figure 6.

section on the line i Figure 8 isa fragmentary detail, partly in section, of; the clutch drive for the measuring belt." i Figure 9 isan clutchdrive for the conveyor With the cover removed. l I Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the conveyor showing the automatic controls therefor. I 1

.Figure 11 is a fragmentary section of the adjustable control taken on the line XIXI of "Figure 10. i

Figure 12 1s a section on the line XIIXII of'Figure 10. r i Figure 13 is a section on Lthe line Figure 1 1 is a section corresponding to Figure 5, disclosing a modified form of electrical control. a As shown on th drawings i 1 substantiallycontinuous length tube stock 10 of the required Width is lead over the upper end of an inclinedfeeding and measuring belt 11, shown at theleft of This belt runs over a large drivofthe tube stock 10 passes over the belt and pulley 13 and drops straight doWnbetween the stationary and movable blades 1 1 and 15 ofa shear, and is picked up by alonghori zontalconveyor belt 16 running over a driv ing pulley 17, This belt 16 is supported bv a table-lilre surface 18 on the framework 19 which forms a continuationof the frame Work 20 supporting the pulleys 12 and 13, the details of this framework being unimportant,

as it is simply a foundation structure built up mo elevation ofthe one Way I of raw of angle iron to provide the required journal supports.

The pulley 17 is mounted on a shaft 21 having a chain sprocket 22 thereon, while the pulley 13 is mounted on a shaft 23 which carries a chain sprocket 24 rotatably mounted thereon together with a clutch mechanism 25 with a shift collar 26 and toggle levers 27 operated by a sliding member 28 as shown in Figure 8, the chain sprocket 2d being clutched to the shaft when the member 28 is pushed to the left in this figure. The two chain sprockets 22 and 24' form part ofa triangular drive by a chain 29 from a sprocket 30 on a reversing shaft 31, the sprocket 30 having a one-way drive therefrom through a pawl and ratchet type clutch 32 shown in Figure 9, a series of unequally spaced pawls engaging a ratchet 3st keyed to the shaft 31, the unequal acing of the pa wls being provided to reduce the lost motion before the clutch engages, as this clutch operates the feeding belt 11 and therefore must be accurately controlled to produce uniform lengths of cut stock.

The reversing drive for the shaft 31' comprises a pair of clutch members 35 and 36 revolving with the shaft 31 and alternately clutching a gear 37 and a chain sprocket 38; both the gear and sprocket being driven from a common continuously rotating lay shaft 39, so that the chain 40 and gear 41 afford drives for the shaft 31 in either direction of rotation, although the triangular chain drive 29 is energized in only one direction because of the ratchet clutch 32.

The lay shaft 39 is driven from the main power shaft 42 by a variable speed; drive com.- prising-two pairs of opposed conical pulleys 43 and 4 1 having a sliding movement on both shafts, the hubs of one pulley of each pair being connected by a bar .15 on each side, both bars being fulcrumed together;mid-way between the two pairs of pulleys by an ad justable spacer bar 46. The projecting ends of the bars carry nuts threaded on a right and left handed screw shaft 47 operated by a hand wheel 48, the turning of which moves one pair of pulleys together to the same extent that the other pair of pulleys are moved apart. The drive from the pulley on the main shaft 42 to the pulleys on the lay shaft 39 is by means of a belt l9 to which blocks 00 are fastened, the ends of the blocks taking the driving force and riding up or out on the surfaces of the conical pulleys to vary the speed ratio according to the spacing adjustment thereof.

The lay shaft 39 drives a countershaft 51,

the movable shear blade 15. A handwheel 61 is applied to the shaft 57 in order that the out can be completed after shutting down the machine.

As rubber cuts easiest with a wet blade, the blade 15 is arranged to slide over a wet felt carried in a trough 62 which filled through a funnel 63 on the side of the frame.

The controls for the reversing clutches 35 and 36 and the shear clutch 53 are operated by a single rocking shaft (Set having cranks 5 with links 66 leading to toggle levers 67 for each. of the clutches 35 and 36, a similar link 63 leading to a crosshead 69 and thence by a rod 70 to toggle levers 71. operating the. clutch 53, the rod '70 being threaded in the crosshead and adjustable by means of the knob and threaded shaft '72 shown in Figure 5.

The shaft 31 carries a pinion. 73 meshing with a rack 74 which is reciprocated back and forth by the, alternating drive for the shaft 31. The rack slides in suitable guideways on a frame member 75, the end of the rack carr in an ad'ustable extension member 76 which is adjusted by a threaded shaft 7 7 journaled in a trip member 78 and threaded into a second trip member 79, both trip members engaging a pivoted dog 80 which is linked at 81 to a lever 82 on the rocking shaft 64. Ii snap-over mechanism 83 is interposed in the link 81 to insure engagement of the proper clutch controlled by the movement of the shaft 6 1.

The length of stroke of. the rack 7st and consequently the length of stock fed at a cycle, is governed by the distance between the two trip members 78 and 79, the adjustn'ient of this distance being accomplished by screwing up or unscrewing the threaded shaft 77. in order that this shaft may be adjusted while the machine is in operation, a sprocket H is splined on the shaft 77 which slides lJtlt'b' and forth therethrough, the sprocket being rotated by a chain 85 leading to a shaft 86 which operated by a hand-wheel 87 on the side of the frame through bevel gears In order that the operator may have visible means for determining the proper adjustment, an indicator or pointer 89 is advanced and retracted by the rotation of the shaft 86, this pointer preferably being located at the end of the cut-off length of stock when the belt 16 comes to rest between cycles to permit the stock to be rolled onto mandrels whichhave ends projecting beyond the tube stock.

The clutch mechanism 25 previously described in connection with the feed roll 13 engaged by the sliding member 28 which is operated by a rod 90 normally yieldingly held retracted by the spring 91 and the rods 92. The rod 90 is operated by a crank 93 which in turn is operated by a crank 94 and link 95 leading to a pivoted dog 96 which is engaged by trips 97 and 98 on the side of the rack 76% and the extension member 6. The purpose of this dog9 6 and the trips separate from the reversing mechanism is to provide for overrunnlng the horizontal conveyor before the feeding mechanism starts to measure of? the required quantity of stock for the next operation, so that the trip 97 gives a predetermined dwellbef'ore the feedmechamsm e11- gages this trip begin low enoughto pass under the dog96 after tripping the same 'onthe outer stroke of. the rack, thesecond trip 98 be ng higher to releasethe clutch upon the return stroke of the rack. 1

Attention is directed to the fact thatthe' chain and the associated mechanism for operating the shear blade 15 areso timed as to impart only a single revolution to the eccentrics .58 whereby the rods f'are only caused to make one complete reciprocation inactive.

during the time that the conveying belts are The modified shown in Figure 14 operates to'produce the same sequenceof steps as in thegform previously described, the mechanical-clutch operating linkage being replaced b opposed pairs of solenoids 99, the cores- 100, ofxwhich operate levers 101 controlling the three clutches previously described, and therack 74 carrying electrical contact members 102 and 103 Whichbridge pairs ofelectrical con-;

tacts 104i and 105 at either endof themov'e ment of the'rack bar 74. The wiring dia gram for the circuits isgiven in Figure 14'. The operation is as follows When a strip of stock 10 istin position on the feeding belt 11 and the driving power is applied, the rack 74 isfrun inwardly until the trip 98trips the dog 96, engaging the clutch25 which causes the feed roller 13 to move the feeding belt 11 a predetermined distance during the continued inward movement of the rack 'T l'causedby a clockwise rotation of the shaft 31 which drives the chain 29 through the one wayclutch 32. When the rack 74 reaches its extreme inner positicm,

the trip 79 engages the dog which throws out the one of the clutches 35 or 36 which is the driver when the shaft rotates clockwise, the other clutch, as Well as the shear clutch 53 being simultaneously engagedso that the material is cut oil while the rack is being run out to its'elx'treme position, the horizontal conveyor 16 being stationary during this period to permit the subsequent operations of applying the valve patchand rolling the pre viously cut off strip of's'tock onto a mandrel; hen the rack reaches its extreme position and reverses, the clutches are again reversed by tripping the dog 80 and the conveyor 16 operates for a predetermined distance be fore the trip 98 again actuates the dog 96 to engagethe feed mechanis1n.= lVith this arrangement, the conveyor 16 is long enough to receive two lengths of cut-off stock atone "machine that combines hitherto separate operations form: of clutch mechanisms mandrel. v

It'will thus be seen that we have produced an improved stock measuring and cutting that isautomatic in operation and into overlapping onesata greatlsaving in time andlahor, as measur1ng,cutt1ng and preparing. for vulca-nizing can be accomplished 1 as a single process, the aw stock beings-e- 'ceived directly from the mixing mills without intermediatehandling or storage.

mittent driving mechanisms therefor includ .ing areciprocating rack, and meansassooiated with said rack adapted to control the operation of said intermittent driving mocha-I nisms. I

V 2. A stock measuring, cutting-andconvey ing mechanism comprising measuring and re- 'ceiving conveyors, a cut oil; mechanism -in terposed between-said conveyors, and inter,- mittent driving mechanisms therefor includ- -ing an'adjustable stroke reciprocating rack,

and means associated with said rackadapted to control the operation of said intermittent driving mechanisms. a

3. A stock measuring, cutting and convey ing mechanism comprising measuring and receiving conveyors, a cut oil mechanism in terposed between said conveyors, intermittent.

driving mechanisms therefor including a re ciprocating rack, means associated witlisaid rack adapted to controlthe operation of said intermittent driving mechanisms, and means associated with the measuring conveyor adapted to shorten the period of" movement thereof relative to the period of movement of the receivingconveyor. a 4. Astock measuring, cutting and convey-f ing mechanism comprising measuring and receiving. conveyors, a cut (as mechanisminterposed between said conveyors, and intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including an intermittently reversible driving shaft, a triangular one-way drive therefrom. to said measuring and receiving conveyors, and an antermlttent drive for said cutting mechanism operating in" synchronism with the reverse movement of said reversing,drivingshaft. h

5. A stock measuring, cutting and convey ing mechanism comprising measuring and re cut off mechanism in time, the length farthest from the feeding mechanism being the one that is rolled onto a from theprinciplesof thisinvenceiving conveyors, a cut off mechanism interposed between said conveyors, and intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including an intermittently reversible driving shaft, a triangular one-way drive therefrom to said measuring and receiving conveyors, an intermittent drive for said cutting mechanism operating in synchronism with the reverse movement of said reversing driving shaft, and means associated with the measuring conveyor adapted to shorten the period of movement thereof relative to the period of movement of the receiving conveyor.

6. In a machine of the class described, means adapted to intermittently feed a predetermined length of stock, severing means adapted to cut off lengths of said stock, receiving means for the cut off lengths of stock, mechanism for intermittently advancing said receiving means in synchronism with the intermittent feeding means, and means associated with said feeding means adapted to start said feeding means after a predetermined movement of said receiving means whereby the latter is caused to over-run the feeding means to provide spaces between adjacent cut-elf lengths of stock.

7. In a machine of the class described, stock measuring and cutting mechanism, a receiving conveyor for the cut-off lengths of stock, interconnected intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including clutches, a reciprocating rack and means contacted by said rack adapted to operate said clutches in timed relationship.

8. In a machine of the class described, stock measuring and cutting mechanism, a receiving conveyor for the cut-oif lengths of stock, interconnected intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including clutches, a reciprocating rack and clutch control members adapted to be intermittently operated by the movement of said rack, and means contacted by said rack adapted to operate said clutches in timed relationship.

9. In a machine of the class described, stock measuring and cutting mechanism, a receiving conveyor for the cut-off lengths of stock, interconnected intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including clutches, a reciprocating rack, means adapted to vary the stroke of said rack, and means contacted by said rack adapted to operate said clutches in timed relationship.

10. In a machine of the class described, stock measuring and cutting mechanism, a receiving conveyor for the cut-off lengths of stock, interconnected intermittent driving mechanisms therefor including clutches, a reciprocating rack, and clutch control members adapted to be intermittently operated by the movement of said rack, means adapted to vary the stroke of said rack, and means contacted by said rack adapted to operate said clutches in timed relationship.

11. Tube making apparatus comprising means for feeding forward a continuous strip of sheeted rubber stock to a receiving position, means for feeding to a tube rolling position successive blanks severed from the continuous strip at the severing position, means for automatically severing the portion of the strip fed from the delivery end of said first feeding means during periods of time when both of said feeding means are inoperative, the second feeding means being arranged to step each blank ahead of the next as it feeds the blank from the severing position and to support the blanks successively in position for the rolling of the mandrels thereon, and a single rack for alternately setting into operation the severing means and said second feeding means.

12. Tube making apparatus comprising means for feeding forward a continuous strip of sheeted rubber stock to a receiving position, means for feeding to a tube rolling position successive blanks severed from the continuous strip at the severing portion, means for automatically severing the portion of the strip fed from the delivery end of said first feeding means during periods of time when both of said feeding means are inoperative, the second feeding means being arranged to step each blank ahead of the next as it feeds the blank from the severing position and to support the blanks successively in position for the rolling of the mandrels thereon, and a single rack for alternately setting into operation the severing means and said second feeding means, said rack also serving to operate the first feeding means in intermittent movements of the same speed as those of the second feeding means but each so timed as to start after and continue concurrently with the movement of the second feeding means.

18. Tube making apparatus comprising means for feeding forward a continuous strip of sheeted rubber stock to a receiving position, means for feeding to a tube rolling position successive blanks severed from the continuous strip at the severing position. means for automatically severing the portion of the strip fed from the delivery end of said first feeding means during periods of time when both of said feeding means are inoperative, the second feeding means being arranged to step each blank ahead of the next as it feeds the blank from the severing position and to support the blanks successively in position for the rolling of the mandrels thereon, and clutches for operating said severing means and said second feeding means and a single rack for alternately operating said clutches.

'14. Tube making apparatus comprising means for feeding forward a continuous strip of sheeted rubber stock to a receiving position, means for feeding to a tube rolling Hill position successive blanks severed from the continuous strip at the severing position,"

means for automatically severing the portion of the strip fed from the delivery end of said first feeding means during periods of time When both of said, feeding means are inoperative,'the second feeding means being arranged to step eachblank ahead of the next as it feeds the blank from the severing'posit-ion and to support the blanks successively in position for the rolling of the mandrels thereon, and clutches for operating saidsevering means and said .feeding'means, a single rack associated therewith, andtrlp mecha nism operable by said rack for alternately engaging and disengaging said clutches.

In testimony whereof, WBhELVB hereunto subscribed our names. o

r ARNOLD R. KRAUSE.

V ALFRED G. HIRSGH. 

